What is organic chemistry?

The study of the properties, reactivity and synthesis of molecules based upon carbon.

Organic chemistry was first developed in the 1770's when Torbern Bergman, a Swedish chemist made the distinction between organic and inorganic substances.[1] Originally, organic chemistry was the study of the chemistry of living systems, but an experiment by Frederick Wöhler proved that an aqueous solution of ammonium cyanate (an inorganic compound) could be heated to produce urea, an organic compound:

Figure 1.1.1

This finding went quite contrary to the status quo of vitalism, and Wöhler met with dispute regarding his results. Vitalism had been the standard theory of organic compounds stating that there was an essential "vital force" required for the synthesis of organic products and thus only in living organisms could such processes occur (hence organic chemistry). However, the definition of organic chemistry has been refined to the study of carbon compounds as well as their unique structure, reactions, and properties.

Today we see the word "organic" as being used to distinguish between that which is derived from living organisms as opposed to that which is synthesized by a chemical process. However, while there may be clear benefits to the neglect of using synthetic compounds for nutrition, it is arguable that in certain occasions "organic" is better than "synthetic." An excellent example of this is the use ascorbic acid (vitamin C). In a pure sample, it is not a sound argument to state that "organic" vitamin C is more beneficial than "synthetic" vitamin C, because both substances are identical in all aspects.[2]

For example, look at the drug Taxol. It is derived from the bark of a yew tree, and its anti-cancer activity was first recorded in 1964.[3] Its unique mechanism of action was established in 1979, however clinical trials were delayed due to a supply problem.[4] Finally in the 1990s Taxol was approved for treatment of ovarian, breast and non-small-cell lung cancers.